Living so close to England it’s easy for us to get drawn into the ways and processes which prove effective south of the border. SPL clubs all scout there, more often than not trying to pick up physically robust scraps discarded by the lower leagues, or troubled souls looking for a sixth chance. Scottish clubs are full of players who have failed to make the grade in England.
When Motherwell were looking for a manager a year ago I heard one of their directors say they hoped to get someone with experience of the English lower leagues, as this has proven to be an effective place for them to network in the past.
Problems with the neighbours works both ways. It’s too easy for English clubs to use the loose change part of their budget to scoop up anything that looks like promising talent from the SPL. While most players will earn well in England, few enjoy the career progression they hoped for.
They do things differently elsewhere. When was the last time teams from Cyprus or Switzerland badgered an English League Two side for their surplus talent? Developing football teams is difficult but a good top level plan helps. One of the most encouraging aspects of Celtic’s top level plan is that it meets criteria that match our place in the world. Recruit talent from the right markets, at the right age and price. Some money has been spent in England, but not much, and those who have arrived from there look decent value.
If Celtic are to match the recent Champions League achievements of Basel or Apoel Nicosia, players like Izaguirre, Kayal, Wanyama and Ki, who pitch up in Glasgow from what appears to be beyond the horizon of the English, will be crucial. Just as those players at Basel and Apoel, they arrived here within an affordable budget and appear to have the talent required to compete at the level Celtic aspires to.
11 years ago we bought Chris Sutton from Chelsea against competition from other FA Premier League clubs. He was soon joined by others at the peak of their ability and reputation, all relatively low-risk signings. We had a few years in the sun but it was neither affordable nor sustainable.
We’ll know soon enough if the current crop of players trying to establish a reputation for themselves have what it takes to win the league and compete in Europe. Good top level plans can still fail in execution, but I’d rather this strategy than send my cash down the M6.
Issue 5 of CQN Magazine is due out next week, let me know if you would like to advertise, celticquicknews@gmail.com.
Read CQN Magazine for free online here. Subscriptions to the online copy are discretionary but you can contribute here. Old-school hard copies are available here from Magcloud.
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podia?
podium ?
twice in a week!
Stand up, if you pay your tax
Stand up, if you pay your tax
Stand up, if you pay your tax
Stand up, if you pay your tax
(Repeat)
A top 10 from Mumbai Airport!!
Hail Hail!
http://www.theinspiration.com/2011/09/carlsberg-stunt-in-cinema/
SP / Canamalar / BRT&H
Being a West End boy with a Gran who lived in Partick for over 50 years you’re getting me all misty eyed. I may pop out to the Uni Cafe for a roll at lunchtime!
Paul67 – clubs all scout there, more often than not trying to pick up physically robust scraps discarded by the lower leagues, or troubled souls looking for a sixth chance.
Andre Blackman, I suspect we shall hardly know ye.
Prove me wrong.
PS – podiums are soooo over.
Nowadays it’s all about who has the best trainers. Mine have holograms and prints of Megatron on them. (thumbsup)
Top 10?
Team buiilding is it?
Next they’ll be suggesting we pass the ball to someone wearing the same coloured jersey.
top ten :P
DBBIA
I think it is safe to say that modern passing to someone wearing the same coloured jersey is rubbish …
Thorin sits down and starts singing about gold. (thumbsup)
You wait – time passes. (thumbsup)
Gandalf is here. (thumbsup)
The French gaming authority (ARJEL) have launched a probe into Lyon’s 7-1 win away to Dinamo Zagreb that took the French side into the last 16 of the Champions League at the expense of Ajax.
After trailing 1-0 Lyon hit back with four goals between the 45th and 52nd minutes with the remaining three goals coming between the 64th and 75th minutes.
The thoughts of English referee Mark Clattenburg and the other five English officials will clearly be in demand.
Going into the match Lyon trailed Ajax by three points and seven goals.
A draw for Ajax at home to Real Madrid would have taken the Dutch side through but as they were losing 3-0 at home to Real Lyon were coming back from the dead in Zagreb.
Ajax had two goals disallowed during the match with coach Frank de Boer angry at the events of the night.
The former Rangers defender said: “If there was something unusual, Uefa should investigate what happened in Zagreb. My assistants have told me that the goals came quick and easy, because you can’t normally score these goals in half an hour.
“But destiny was in our own hands and we had chances to qualify because our game was very even. I will have to see video replays (of the disallowed goals).”
Dinamo Zagreb failed to pick up a single point in their six group matches but had only lost 15 goals before the roof fell in last night.
Uefa are bound to be in touch with the French gaming authorities to ensure the integrity of their blue chip competition.
Br\o/gan R\o/gan Trevin\o/ and H\o/gan says:
8 December, 2011 at 12:22
Starry Plough
Oh I knocked about all over the West End and Partick– still do whenever I get the chance to come in from the country. The Old Yins stay round the corner in the new flats in Crow Road and what passes for my “Offishul” office was moved up to the top of Byres Road just so that I could go there and take in some familiar surroundings— pubs etc.
Canamalar
Well what d’ye know lol— you will remeber the mad Misses Broadley and Barker who must have aged about 240 between them, Big Mick, and various other loons that taught at St Peter’s at that time.
I left at the start of P5 right enough but still knocked about the area.
JinkyvJohnGreig-saysitall says:
8 December, 2011 at 12:22
Have one for me, they don’t do rolls in Switzerland, I was in two minds whether to come home in January or not but after today’s pad down memory lane I’m just asking myself if can stay for three weeks.
Cheers Bhoys that’s that settled, off to look for flights..
SP
It was good to see the two teams from the smaller leagues get through while the two big spending Manchester clubs failed.
Rodow,
Aye mate the game will be on, just consulted the satellite list to confirm.
Think I’ll have to head soon after it though.
Sent home from work out the way of the big blow.
philvisreturns says:
8 December, 2011 at 12:25
Are you palying with your ZX Spectrum ?
philvisreturns says:
8 December, 2011 at 12:22
Paul67 – clubs all scout there, more often than not trying to pick up physically robust scraps discarded by the lower leagues, or troubled souls looking for a sixth chance.
Andre Blackman, I suspect we shall hardly know ye.
Prove me wrong.
PS – podiums are soooo over.
Nowadays it’s all about who has the best trainers. Mine have holograms and prints of Megatron on them. (thumbsup)
I’ve got my “Pathfinders” on
Wee animal paw prints on the soles and if you take the left shoe off and lift the wee flap up inside you find a tiny compass…..I’ll never get lost
Br\o/gan R\o/gan Trevin\o/ and H\o/gan says:
8 December, 2011 at 12:26
If you’re in Byres road I’ll give you a shout when I’m over and we can go for a wee stroll and a pint, I only managed a very quick visit to the West End last time round.
HX2
31003 says:
8 December, 2011 at 12:37
I had a pair of these in the 60’s – Wayfinders (sorry to be pedantic) with the compass in the heel.
rememberingthe60’scsc
Eurochamps -it’s not the day to attempt the World record for tightrope walking in a kilt.
just lookin at the poster I got with my “Pathfinders”
It charts the individual paw prints on the soles….there’s a badger, stoat, fox….and whats this cloven hoofed one/….oh aye….its a hun
Starry Plough
Always happy to have a pint and a chat in the Byres Road lol
Mind you maybe not in this ind right enough though I will bet you Tennants is doing a fair trade ha ha
Any ideas on a reasonably priced HD telly,about 42″ .ta.
Br\o/gan R\o/gan Trevin\o/ and H\o/gan says:
8 December, 2011 at 12:41
Sounds good I will look forward to that..
SP
TheGreenManalishi(WithTheTwoProngedCrown) – Are you palying with your ZX Spectrum ?
10 PRINT “PHILVIS IS ACE!”
20 GOTO 10
(thumbsup)
31003 – O RLY?
Well, my Dukes of Hazzard lunchbox beats your compass shoes.
Right now, ole’ Philvis is happier than a hog knee-deep in slop. (thumbsup)
SAPPENIN?
Looking for some advice –
Heading down this Sat for the game, doing hospitality with one of my muckers. We are staying in Glasgow Sat night, and looking for a good Chinese restaurant for Sat evening, preferably Merchant City / City Centre.
Any suggestions?
And will be up for a few scoofs afterwards if anyone will be in town?
Cheers in advance,
Lurcy
(Off into a meeting but will check back later)
Alukp 2 match ban upheld
Kayal33 says:
8 December, 2011 at 12:54
Aluko 2 match ban upheld
G O T @23.35
My sister was born with only one arm she is so independant its unbeliveable. She is now in her 70s but looks 20 yrs younger. In her youth she she would do hairstyling and even papered my living room after the paper had been lying in a corner for abt a month. She came in one night and said to me. You paste i’ll hang it!! Recently I found out that a teacher who I thought was a great guy gave her 2 of the belt because someone made a noise in the class and woudnt own up.
After that my dad moved her to another school. I exploded when she told me this and wd smash his face in if I met him, but he’s long dead now .The RATBAG!!!. This guy was about 6’6 in size. They talk about bullying but some teachers then were sadists!
About a year ago I met his son who is a right pompous B. Believe me I let him know what I thought of his father. Even my mate said you didnt miss him and hit the wall there!! But I felt great after it.
HaiL HaiL
Meanwhile, at Wonga FC, while they may not be currently paying their players, they are prepared to let them continue to work for free on extended contracts:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16076186.stm
Flats, glorious flats… (thumbsup)
Kayal33 says:
8 December, 2011 at 12:54
Obviously the boy did’nt have a leg to stand on…….